Lighter with child resistant actuating lever

ABSTRACT

A lighter. The lighter includes a container for storing a combustible fuel and a source of ignition. The source of ignition is responsive to the manual manipulation of an actuating member and a member resisting the operation of the actuation member so that the source of ignition is not activated in response to forces less than approximately 3.5 kgf.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention related to the field of lighters, such ascigarette lighters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional butane lighters comprise a lighter body within whichis housed a reservoir containing butane or other suitable fuel, amounting frame affixed atop the lighter body, a nozzle inserted throughthe mounting frame into connected relationship with the reservoir, alever for actuating the nozzle, and a piezoelectric igniter or a moreconventional mechanical igniter such as a striker wheel, flint andflint-spring combination. The igniter is positioned close to the rearend of the lever so that the igniter and the rear end of the lever maybe actuated simultaneously or nearly so.

[0003] Lighters which pre-date butane lighters are similar to theabove-identified conventional butane lighters except that instead ofhaving a nozzle in connected relationship with the reservoir, a wick orsimilar device is used, and there is no need for a nozzle actuatinglever. Such lighters typically have traditional mechanical igniters withstriker wheels and flints.

[0004] While the traditional mechanical igniter with striker wheel andflint can still be found in the marketplace, the butane lighter equippedwith a piezoelectric igniter has become very popular. Instead of using astriker wheel and flint, a modern lighter is equipped with apiezoelectric unit which draws a spark when operated. The piezoelectricunit is typically operated by a thumb-operated push cap which not onlyoperates the lever for actuating the nozzle, but also operates thepiezoelectric unit to draw a spark, causing a flame to shoot upward fromthe lighter.

[0005] Piezoelectric igniters are popular because the spark which theydraw is very predictable compared with the older mechanical ignitersknown in the art.

[0006] The safety device of the present invention works effectively witheither form of lighter and with either form of igniter.

[0007] One of the reasons for the popularity of modern lighters is thefact that the height of the flame produced by the lighter can be variedover a wide range by varying the amount of fuel allowed to be ejectedfrom the lighter. The very feature that makes such lighters dangerous ifthey are ignited. When the lighter produces a flame in an uncontrolledcircumstance, particularly when the lighter is set on its high setting,materials (such as curtains, clothing, hair) may accidentally be lit onfire. Modern butane lighters are particularly dangerous when they are inthe hands of children. This is true whether the igniter is a traditionalstriker wheel and flint arrangement or is embodied by a more modernpiezoelectric device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lighter comprisesan igniter, a fuel source and a push button, typically thumb-operated,for releasing the fuel from the fuel source via a nozzle in the vicinityof the igniter. When the igniter is embodied by a traditional strikerwheel and flint arrangement, the igniter wheel is positioned adjacentthe push button so that the user can cause the striker wheel to rotateand can depress the push button in more or less one continuous motion.If, on the other hand, a piezoelectric igniter is used, then thepiezoelectric igniter is typically operated as the push button isdepressed to release the fuel from the fuel source. The lighter alsoincludes a spring which is placed in a position to act against thedepression of the push button in order to increase the child resistanceof the lighter. With the spring action, additional force is required toactivate push button making it more difficult for children to depressthe push button in order to activate the lighter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a piezoelectric lighter of the typeknown in the prior art;

[0010]FIGS. 1A and 1B depict the piezoelectric igniter unit shown inFIG. 1 in greater detail;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a piezoelectric lighter inaccordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIGS. 2A and 2B show the push button in its normal unactuatedstate and in its actuated state, respectively;

[0013]FIG. 2C is a bottom view of the push button or actuating lever;

[0014]FIG. 3A is a side exterior view of the lighter, shown fullyassembled;

[0015]FIGS. 3B and 3C are side-sectional views, partially cut away,showing the internal arrangement of the lighter; and FIG. 4 is a sidesectional view of the piezoelectric igniter.

THE PRIOR ART

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a conventional butane lighter of the type known inthe prior art. The butane lighter includes a push button 1 and apiezoelectric unit 2, 3. Butane fuel is stored in a fuel reservoir 9 inthe lighter and can be released to ambient via a valve adjacent or nearnozzle 8. Piece 5 is used to help keep the various components in properalignment, to conveniently encase them in lighter body 10 and to helpattach cap 11.

[0017] Elements 2 and 3 of the piezoelectric unit are moveable withrespect to each other and when they do move, they induce an electricalcharge through piezoelectric action to produce a flame when the lighteris lit and the fuel is released. A piezoelectric unit 2, 3 is shown ingreater detail in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In FIG. 1A it is shown in its normal,unactuated state. In FIG. 1B it is shown in its actuated (depressed)spark inducing state. In normal operation, when the actuating lever orpush button 1 is depressed, the piezoelectric device 2, 3 is actuatedcausing an electric current to be conducted through a conductor orconducting wire (not shown) to somewhere near the outlet of nozzle 8 asan ignition source. The depression of the push button or actuating lever2 simultaneously causes the rear part of gas lever 6 to move in adownward direction. As a result, the front part of the gas lever 6,which engages nozzle 8, moves upwardly causing nozzle 8 to raise and itsassociated valve to open. Of course, the opening of the valve allows thefuel to flow or release from the fuel reservoir 9 to fuel theaforementioned flame. Such operations are quite simple and the lightercan be easily mishandled by a child.

[0018] In prior art lighters of the type shown in FIG. 1 a force of 1.5to 2.0 kgf is required to depress actuating lever or push button 1downward so as to move elements 2 and 3 inward causing a spark to begenerated. A child typically possesses a thumb depressing force of up to1.5 to 2.0 kgf and therefore a child can often operate the type of priorart lighter depicted by FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Turning now to FIG. 2, a lighter equipped with a preferredembodiment of the present invention is depicted. It is basically similarto the lighter shown in FIG. 1, but is provided with a spring 4 whichacts against the manual operation of push button or actuating lever 1.The push button 1 and element 2 of piezoelectric igniter 2, 3 aremodified to accommodate spring 4.

[0020] After spring 4 is duly assembled with push button 1 andpiezoelectric unit 2, 3 and the remaining parts are assembled, as alsoshown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, with spring 4 disposed about element 2, whichpreferably has a columnar shape. The bottom portion 4B of spring 4 restson shoulder 3A of piezoelectric igniter unit 2, 3. The top 4A of spring4 engages a shoulder or other surface 1B in the interior of push button1. Push button 1 is shown in a cutaway view in the FIGS. 2A and 2B andin a bottom view in FIG. 2C in order to show better the interiorshoulder 1B which is preferably provided at the base of channel 1C ofthe push button 1 when practicing the invention.

[0021]FIG. 2A shows the igniter, 3 push button or actuating lever 1 andspring 4 combination in its normal, unactuated position. At this time,spring 4 preferably assumes its full normal length in an at restposition without providing any rebounding force.

[0022] In order to ignite a flame, the top portion 1A of push button oractuating lever 1 is pressed downwardly, typically by the user's thumb.Element 2 of piezoelectric unit 2, 3 moves downwardly under the actionof the projection 1B inside push button or actuating lever 1 and thusassumes the position depicted by FIG. 2B. The movement of element 2relative to element 3 causes the piezoelectric effect to occur which inturn causes the lighter to be lit. The movement of element 2 also causesgas lever 6 to rock on its rounded front part 6A and againstprotuberances 12 as its arms 6C move in a clock-wise direction (compareFIGS. 3B and 3C) as the bottom edges 1D of push button 1 bearthereagainst. Only one protuberance 12 is shown for ease ofillustration, it being understood that preferably two such protuberanceswould be provided, one on each side of the lighter. Gas lever 6 has anotch 6B which engages nozzle 8, lifting it when element 2 is pusheddownwardly by the action of push button 1. The lifting motion of nozzle8 causes its associated valve to open and gas to flow from the reservoir9 in the base of the lighter. Gas flow from nozzle 8 is preferablyconducted by a gas pipe 7 to the point of combustion at element 5.

[0023] When lighting a flame, spring 4 resists the downward movement ofpush button or actuating lever 1. Thus, the compression of spring 4provides a rebounding, upwardly directed force against the movement ofpush button or actuating lever 1 and therefore the force required tooperate the lighter is increased.

[0024] The piezoelectric igniter 2, 3 includes a hammer 23A which impacta headpin 23B above ceramic 23C. The hammer 23A striking the headpin andhence the ceramic causes an electrical discharge to occur. Thepiezoelectric unit 2, 3 typically includes a return spring 23D forurging element 2 away from element 3. Typically, the force required toovercome spring 23D is on the order of 1.5 to 2.0 kgf. It is preferredto use an auxiliary spring 4 in order to increase the force required toactivate the lighter as opposed to merely increasing the spring constantof spring 23D. The reason for this is that increasing the springconstant of spring 23D could tend to shorten the life of thepiezoelectric igniter unit 2, 3. Thus, the use of an auxiliary spring 4is preferred.

[0025] Preferably, the auxiliary spring 4 is selected such that theforce required to light the lighter is at least 3.5 kgf and morepreferably falls in the range of 5.5 to 6.0 kgf. A child typically doesnot possess enough strength to be able to operate push button 1 and alsoovercome the additional resistance provided by spring 4. An adult, onthe other hand, can impart more than enough force using their thumb toovercome the resistance of spring 4 and cause element 2 of thepiezoelectric unit to collide with components 23B and 23C of portion 3of the piezoelectric unit to generate an electrical discharge and lighta flame.

[0026] When the push button 1 is released, it returns to its normalposition shown FIGS. 2A and 3B. This allows arms 6C to move in acounterclockwise direction allowing the valve associated with nozzle 8to close and the flame to be extinguished.

[0027] Assuming that an auxiliary spring 4 is used to increase the forcerequired to activate the lighter as discussed above, then a conventionalpiezoelectric igniter 2, 3 may be used. Indeed, in practicing thepresent invention, the applicant prefers to use a conventionalpiezoelectric igniter 2, 3. In the case of some prior art piezoelectricigniters 2, 3, they induce a spark when the top element 2 of thepiezoelectric unit is moved about 80% of its full possible stroke intoelement 3. As indicated above, the spring constant of auxiliary spring 4is selected such that the total force required to activate the lighter,i.e. when the piezoelectric igniter 2, 3 is at least 3.5 kgf.

[0028] The present invention has been shown in connection with apiezoelectric lighter given the popularity of piezoelectric lighters inthe marketplace. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the invention isused in connection with a piezoelectric lighter. However, the inventioncan also be used in connection with other prior art lighters, such asthose of the type having a mechanical igniter comprising a strikerwheel, flint and flint spring combination. It is known, for example, touse a push button or other actuating lever to rotate a striker wheel orother mechanical means to generate a spark from a flint. A spring may beused to resist the depression of such a push button or actuating leveror to resist the rotational movement of the striker wheel to therebymake the lighter difficult to be used when placed in the hands ofchildren, but yet still convenient to use in the hands of an adult.

[0029] Having described the invention in connection with a preferredembodiment thereof, modification may now suggest itself to those skilledin the art. The invention itself is not to be limited to the embodimentsdisclosed, except as required by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighter comprising a container for storing acombustible fuel; a source of ignition, the source of ignition beingresponsive to the manual manipulation of an actuating member and amember resisting the operation of the actuating member so that thesource of ignition is not activated in response to forces less thanapproximately 3.5 kgf.
 2. The lighter of claim 1, wherein the resistingmember is a spring.
 3. The lighter of claim 2, wherein the actuatingmember is a manually-operated push button engaging said spring.
 4. Thelighter of claim 3, wherein the ignition unit is a piezoelectric devicehaving first and second members, the piezoelectric device generatingelectricity in response to movement of the first and second membersrelative to each other, the spring engaging the piezoelectric device. 5.The lighter of claim 4, wherein the push button includes a channel forreceiving at least a portion of said spring and includes a projectionengaging the first member of said piezoelectric device.
 6. The lighterof claim 4, wherein said first element of said piezoelectric deviceextends from the second element of the piezoelectric device in acolumnar fashion and extends a length from the second deviceapproximately equal to a length of said spring in its at-rest position.7. The lighter of claim 6 wherein said first member of saidpiezoelectric device is moveable relative to said second member inresponse to manual manipulation of said push button, said piezoelectricdevice including an internal spring which cooperates with the resistingmember to resist operation of the actuating member.
 8. An igniter for alighter, the igniter comprising first and second elements moveablerelative to each other for generating a spark in response to movement ofthe first element relative to the second element; a manually actuatedmember engaging the first member; and a compression member resisting themovement of the first member relative to the second member for thepurpose of generating a spark to forces imposed between the manuallyoperated member and the second member less than approximately 3.5 kgf.9. A lighter comprising a container for storing a combustible fuel; asource of ignition, the source of ignition comprising at least 2 memberswhich are moveable with respect to each other, the source of ignitionincluding an internal spring for urging the two members away from eachother, the source of ignition causing a spark to occur when the twomember are urged together; a push button engaging one of the members ofthe source of ignition and causing the source of ignition to draw aspark in response to manual depression of the push button; and a memberdisposed externally of said source of ignition, said resisting membercooperating with the internal spring inside the source of ignition toresist depression of the push button.